Fourteen people were reportedly injured, although none of them were serious.

Afterwards, the plane landed safely at Madrid-Barajas Adolfo Suarez Airport, its original destination, where several passengers and crew members were reportedly treated for injuries.

According to reports, 11 passengers and three crew members sustained injuries from the dramatic drop.

An employee for the airline told Channel News Asia the passengers had ignored the seatbelt warning, which had been activated before the turbulence hit the plane.

The Straits Times reported the aircraft hit a pocket of "clear air turbulence," which occurs in calm-looking skies. The episode reportedly lasted for 15 seconds, during which the flight dropped about 91m.

The Evelop Airlines flight was on its way to Spain from Mauritius when the turbulence struck.

A person who claims to have been on the Evelop flight told the news outlet the plane "plunged like when you are at a fairground attraction".

"We saw many passengers fly literally over the seats, some hit the ceiling, others the seats beside them," the passenger said.

Another passenger said the incident sent people "flying towards the ceiling and floating in the air, like you see in the movies," according to CNA.com. "We all thought we were going to die."